Regular coating inspections and surveys, collectively referred to as Coating Condition Surveys (CCS), provide invaluable information about the condition of existing coatings that can be used to inform effective maintenance strategies. Without routine surveys, maintenance strategies can be ineffective and can become obsolete. Regularly scheduled surveys and planned maintenance are essential to asset integrity. However, both are often neglected as the value in each task is not fully understood. The findings, recommendations, and priorities offered by a CCS not only help owners better understand their assets, but also help engineers, designers, specifiers, coatings applicators, and inspectors better maintain assets. This understanding can help owners make decisions on budgeting for maintenance, help designers plan for repairs and inspections, and provide coatings contractors a clear understanding of the repairs needed and how the repairs should be completed. This paper focuses on the inspection and repair strategies for existing coatings on steel substrates, however the plans and strategies can be applied to all assets.
Consistent coating inspections and planned maintenance are essential to asset integrity. Non-existent, delayed, and cursory inspections can allow premature coating breakdown, corrosion, and costly failures. On the other hand, improper maintenance can be ineffective, costly, and wasteful. The challenge involved in executing informative inspections and effective maintenance practices is identifying and understanding the numerous conditions that can contribute to a reduction in the lifecycle of an asset. This paper will discuss some of the aspects involved in identifying coating conditions that are likely to result in failures and developing cost effective coating repair strategies that will extend the life of the asset. We will also navigate the process involved in balancing repair priorities to ensure the essential repairs are completed in a timely manner, yet customized to the needs of the asset owner. This paper focuses on the inspection and repair strategies for existing coatings on steel substrates, however the plans and strategies can be applied to all assets.